Question

A 60-year-old man presents to a suburban Victorian emergency department with 45 minutes of central chest tightness radiating to the left arm. ECG shows 3 mm ST elevation in leads V2-V4. He has no history of peptic ulcer disease or major bleeding. While awaiting transfer to the catheter laboratory, which immediate intervention is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Give 300 mg aspirin orally, chewed, as a loading dose

Answer

Withhold antiplatelet therapy until coronary angiography is available

Answer

Start intravenous heparin but delay aspirin until troponin is positive

Answer

Administer 75 mg enteric-coated aspirin to be swallowed whole

Answer

Start oral clopidogrel 75 mg daily without aspirin

Practice question